Charlie Codman's Cruise

ade boy, with a bright eye and a manly expression. But he was poor. That was evident enough from his clothes, which, though neat and free from dust, were pa

ismissed. Charlie had scarcely passed the school-house when a crowd of boys issued from the school-yard, and he heard his name called

ound, Charlie?"

ing hom

ave you had

rs left over, and that will t

, Charlie. I wish you cou

deal to get an education, but I f

e us, Charlie? Clare and myself would

," said Charlie, "bu

es. I[7] like you just as well a

Charlie. "I'd invite you to come and

for that. I will come when

rnoon. I will be waiting for

ht where he would be

h a shambling gait, who was bending over and anxiously searching for something on the sidewalk. Charl

nt; but, one by one, its functions had been blunted[8] and destroyed, and it had become old and out of repair. Peter's face was ploughed with wrinkles. His cheeks w

t not closely enough to conceal a dirty and tattered shirt beneath; a coat in the last stages of shabbiness; while over all hung a faded blue cloak, which Peter wore in all weathers. In the sultriest days of August he might have been seen trudging along in this old mantle, which did him the g

o see what it was that th

ost anythin

. "See if you can't find it, that's a g

t is

d I—I'm so poor, I ca

uch wa

h, but I'm so

ially concealed by mud, just besi

what you l

it eagerly. "You're a good

covered treasure, "I'd rather be poor than care so much for money as that.

is destiny, and how, at his instigation, before a week had passed o

follow

s they don't need, or that they might pick up, if they'd only take the trouble to keep their eyes open. 'Tisn't so with old Peter. He's too cunning for that. There goes a young fellow dressed up in the fashion. What he's got on must have cost nigh on to a hundred[11] dollars. What dreadful extravagance! Ha! ha! It hasn't cost old Peter twenty dollars for the last ten years. If he had spent money as some do, he might have been in the poor-house by this t

lmshouse; but there were some little obstacles in the way of his entering. For instance, it would scarcely have been al

ecollection that he had nothing at[12] home for supper.

read cheap?" he inq

sell at mode

ooking wistfully at some fresh loaves piled upon the co

"I'll warrant you will find them good

queried Peter, his natural appet

yes in astonishment; "why, my good sir, a

Peter, hastily; "but have you any stale

lieve I have, but they're no

es?" inquired[13] Peter, fumblin

bout half price—th

, then; I guess it'l

acknowledge that it was the price

ted with his character, and judging from his dilapidated appearance that he might be prevented, by actual poverty, from buying the fresh bread, exclaimed with a su

ll

arkled with eagerne

mistaken[14] compassion; "he must

e a loaf this once for three cents.

r no

ited them with reluctant hand on the counter. He gazed at them wistfully while the baker carelessly swept them with his hand into the t

feast which awaited him. Do not laugh, reader,—little as you may regard a fresh loaf of bread, it was i

5] having done a charitable action, when Pe

ve dropped some money. You hav

ou dropped it here you will find it somewh

rwise by this offer of assistance, but cou

y discovered the missing coin. The former pounced upon it,

y is not so well bestowed as I thought. Do yo

poor. This is all I have, and I expect it

er, watching the shabby figure of the miser